But no matter where you stand on the controversial statute — which deals with, among other things, the ability of local governments to enact anti-discrimination laws — the issue has become a political football that could profoundly affect all sports in North Carolina over the coming months and years.

Already, the NBA is threatening to move its 2017 All-Star Game to another state if North Carolina doesn’t repeal HB2.

The language of the directive, which was passed on April 27, is intentionally vague. Its implication, however, is as clear as a cloudless, Carolina blue sky. That is as long as HB2 is on the books, North Carolina stands to lose any number of major NCAA events.

That’s not an idle threat.

Just ask the folks down in South Carolina, who were shut out of the NCAA bidding process in 2001 because of a controversy involving the Confederate flag flying over that state’s capitol.

Though it’s yet to be seen what impact the fight over HB2 will have on North Carolina’s ability to sponsor major collegiate events, it’s an issue on which state schools — especially those hoping to host NCAA baseball regionals later this month — are watching closer than an umpire waiting on a bang-bang play at the plate.

“Obviously we’re staying on top of that and trying to figure out what that might mean for our opportunities to host,” East Carolina athletic director Jeff Compher said last week. Compher’s Pirates are currently ranked 24th in the nation by D1Baseball.com and are a favorite to win their second straight American Athletic Conference title.

“We’re part of the UNC System,” Compher said. “We’ll continue to work with the system to figure out what’s right for us as we move forward.”

N.C. State, which is currently ranked sixth, is in an even better position to serve as a regional host.

Coach Elliott Avent and his team aren’t as concerned about the consequences of the new NCAA directive because as a school spokesperson pointed out, the Wolfpack and other North Carolina schools have history working in their favor. Despite the NCAA’s boycott of South Carolina, ACC rival Clemson has still hosted five regionals and two super regionals.

But the good news only goes so far.

Depending on the NCAA’s interpretation of its new anti-discrimination guideline, future Division I men’s basketball regionals in North Carolina could be in serious jeopardy. The 2016 women’s soccer College Cup and the Division II College World Series in Cary could also end up in the cross-hairs.

Although this year’s tournament is almost certainly safe because of the logistics involved with moving such a large event in such a short period of time, it’s a safe bet that the topic will come up at the league’s annual spring meetings in Florida next week.

ACC Commissioner John Swofford will likely discuss the ramifications of HB2 at next week’s league meetings

To this point, commissioner John Swofford has kept a low profile on the subject of HB2, saying only that “the ACC is committed to its mission of equality and diversity” and that “in conjunction with our schools, we will continue to monitor all current events to ensure an inclusive and nondiscriminatory environment for all.”

Like the NCAA’s directive, the wording of Swofford’s statement affords the ACC plenty of wiggle room. Only in this case, precedent may be working against the league’s four in-state schools.

When confronted with a similar situation in 2009, the ACC decided to comply with the NCAA’s sanctions against South Carolina by pulling that year’s baseball tournament out of Myrtle Beach.

That’s an ominous sign for future events in North Carolina, no matter which side of the HB2 debate you’re on.